LandxSea Monthly’s series of Powerful Films about People and Planet returns to Montrose Playhouse this November.

We’re proud to present this screening of PAID IN BLOOD, an independent documentary by Angus-based filmmaker Byron Pace, highlighting the challenges and realities of conservation in Africa.

In 2019, in a groundbreaking operation, Wildlife Vets Namibia partnered with Parc de la Vallée de la N'Sele and Mount Etjo to relocate an elephant family from Namibia to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As Mount Etjo's elephant population becomes threatened by severe drought conditions, and with no local reserves able to take the herd - the team embarked on the arduous translocation of an entire elephant family including the matriarch, across land and sea to the safety and thriving lush wilderness of the Congo, DRC.

The arduous six-day voyage, large and complex, comes with immense physical and emotional challenges, beautifully captured by Byron in this film. We follow the journey alongside renowned conservationist and "rhino whisperer" Annette Oelofse, and the family legacy of wildlife conservation she has made it her life long mission to uphold.

Byron Pace is dedicated to documentary storytelling through film, photography and the written word. Delving deep into the challenging interface between humans, wildlife, and the environment we share. With He wants to shed light on the difficult realities of the modern world, looking at the facts as we know them, building on science, and understanding the daily struggles people face around the world.

We're delighted that Byron Pace will join us after the film for an in-person conversation Q&A hosted by journalist and lecturer David Shanks of Robert Gordon University.

Director: Byron Pace | Country: Namibia/DRC | Year: 2025 | Running Time: 54 min | Language: English | Rating: 12A

Additional Info on box office, venue, travel & accessibility.

LandxSea Monthly: Environmental Films, Year-Round

LandxSea is Scotland’s Environmental Film Festival, held each September at the Montrose Playhouse, celebrating bold storytelling that sparks action.

With LandxSea Monthly, we’re keeping that spirit alive year-round.

This carefully curated series features exclusive previews, international gems, and must-see films that challenge, inspire, and ignite meaningful conversations about our planet — far beyond the festival weekend.

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